THE EDGE: The Edge previews the Australia v India 5th Test with a recommended BETDAQ bet.
Australia v India 5th Test
MATCH OVERVIEW:
The 5th and final Test between Australia and India kicks off on Thursday night on BETDAQ Betting Exchange with India needing to win to level the series. This Test comes up quite quickly after the 4th Test finished on Monday – to be honest India threw away a good chance for a draw there with their collapse in the final session at the MCG. Obviously Test cricket is the toughest format, and all the drama usually happens as the pressure gets more intense but India will still be very disappointed to lose the Test going into the final session with seven wickets in hand, regardless of how many overs were left – the wicket wasn’t offering much to the bowlers either.
After a lot of success in Australia, now India find themselves needing a win to level the series at 2-2. Australia came into the series as the big favourites to win given home conditions and the fact that India had just surprisingly lost a home series 3-0 to New Zealand, but there actually hasn’t been that much between the sides. Bumrah has been absolutely excellent for India – he has carried the attack and the reality is the major difference has been the lack of support for Bumrah in the Indian bowling. Obviously Australia have had the better of things with the bat, but as I said there has definitely been less pressure when Bumrah hasn’t been in the attack.
We’re all set for a fantastic final Test though. This series has pretty much had everything. Quite possibly – and I know you can’t write scripts – the only thing the series is missing is a match winning knock from Virat Kohli given all the stick he has been getting in Australia on this tour. That would be a fairy tale for Indian fans, and fairy tales don’t happen often. A draw for India would also retain the Border-Gavaskar trophy; so everything is to play for!
WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:
The sides finish the series at the SCG, and we should have a massive crowd in Sydney – India will also have a lot of support here. You don’t need me to tell you that the SCG is an excellent place for cricket, but this has been a draw friendly venue recently. Six of the last ten Tests have finished with a draw – that’s probably the most draw friendly record in Test cricket these days? India have left Sydney with a draw on their last three visits here. Weather has been a factor for some Tests of course, but it’s hardly a venue to be laying the draw at big prices!
RECOMMENDED BET:
It’s not a surprise that Australia come into the final Test as the odds on favourites – that has been the case for the series. I felt India were a little value at 3.0+ heading into the 4th Test, but they were never really in it – their best chance of getting a draw heading into the final innings. I still feel the reality is that Bumrah doesn’t have support, and that’s where the main difference has been this series. However, the SCG has had so many draws recently and we weren’t too far off a draw at the MCG too. For the first time this series, I feel the draw offers a little value at 7.4. A draw here wins the series for Australia too.
The Edge Says:
One point win Draw at 7.4 with https://betdaq.biz/SydStr
View the market here -> https://betdaq.biz/AusInd5
IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:
With the SCG being very friendly to draws – six of the last ten Tests – I do feel the draw will be a big part of this market. If Bumrah doesn’t fire for India then I’d be surprised if Australia didn’t go big with the bat. India need a lot more from their middle order with the bat of course, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the draw trade shorter. I do feel the best play will be laying India when Bumrah isn’t bowling – you’ll have Australia and the draw price working for you then – there should be times when Australia have a lot of momentum with the bat, and you’d have to expect good batting conditions too.
